Welcome to Texas justice: You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Men are from Mars, Dogs are from Venus

I've always been a dog person. Indeed, I like most dogs more than most people, if ever forced to choose. So I strongly support the recent trend in some prisons of teaching inmates to train dogs while they're incarcerated.

The patience and discipline required to train dogs, combined with the companionship and unconditional love a dog can give, teaches inmates values like selflessness and responsibility that prison life usually discourages. In some cases this can be a transformative experience. Last week in Venus, TX, the Cleburne Times reports ("Paws in prisons holds first graduation," Aug. 19), inmates:

showed off the skills of dogs they trained at a graduation ceremony Wednesday at the Sanders Estes Unit ...

The eight week Paws in Prison program ended with inmates thanking Warden David McComis and other prison employees for allowing them to train the dogs.

“This has given me a whole different outlook on life,” said Mario Perez, an inmate who trained a dog named Midnight. “I am planning to stay in the program for one more round.”

Deputy Warden Michael Ringer said the Sanders Estes Unit plans to build the program and bring in more dogs over the next few months.

“This has had a positive impact on our facility,” he said.

The Sanders Estes Unit is the third GEO-run facility to implement Paws in Prison.

And to anon, honestly I don't think Vick is a good candidate for that - make him clean dog shit, maybe, but don't make him responsible for a dog. There must be other rehabilitation methods for somebody like that. best,

the only "rehab" Vick needs, is the kind that shows him just what it felt like for those poor animals to be in his care.

I think otherwise this is a wonderful program for offenders to be in. It does teach them empathy and responsibility, but most of all it shows the offenders the understanding of unconditional love. That's what is the most important.

Thanks grits, for all you have provided to us. One qustion, what went on at the BPP board meeting you told us about last week??? Any body got any news???

I am the Warden at the prison in Venus, Texas. If you would like more information on the "Paws in Prison Program" you may contact the facility at (972)366-3334 and ask to speak to me. It is truly a great program and I expect it to double in about 3-weeks when we start the second phase.

Southern, daily and good for you

Grits for Breakfast looks at the Texas criminal justice system, with a little politics and whatever
else suits the author's fancy thrown in. All opinions are my own. The facts belong to everybody. Who is this guy?

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